Bladder Irritation with RT

User

Posted 09 Mar 2026 at 16:57

I have just started week 3 of 4 EBRT. Over the weekend I started to have symptoms of bladder irritation, similar to a kidney infection/ uti I had about 10 years ago. These have steadily got worse and would now be described as quite painful rather than irritating.

I spoke with the radiographer today and she just said that they have arrived right on cue, between week 3 or 4. The only thing she suggested was over the counter paracetamol for the pain. I will be seeing my consultant at the end of the week and hopefully he will prescribe something as the radiographer said that this is probably going to get worse, and that the peak pain would not be until 10 days after the final RT session.

My question is what (if anything) have others used to ease the irritation/ pain? My wife suggested cranberry juice / tablets but the radiographer said that this would make no difference as there is no infection.

User

Posted 10 Mar 2026 at 13:54

Did they check for an infection? There probably isn't one, but you could ask your GP nurse to do a urine dip test, which they should be able to do same day.

Cranberry juice will reduce the chance of getting a urinary infection, but its effect isn't powerful enough to get rid of a urinary infection. It won't do anything for pain. It coats the bladder and urethra with a chemical in cranberries which stops bacteria from sticking, so it makes them more likely to get washed out when you pee, rather than building up into a level regarded as an infection. Ideally, go for a reduced or sugar-free one, as many cranberry products have lots of added sugar, and that actually increases the chance of infections.

User

Posted 11 Mar 2026 at 19:36

Hi Andy, no they checked for an infection and there is none. Have been taking cranberry tablets but they have no effect.

User

Posted 27 Apr 2026 at 19:00

Hi looking at RT and wondering how you are getting on, has the discomfort subsided?

User

Posted 27 Apr 2026 at 21:06

Skip cranberry. You don't have an infection. Drink 2-3L of water daily. Cut coffee, tea, alcohol, and citrus. Ask your consultant for tamsulosin or AZO (phenazopyridine). Paracetamol won't cut it.

User

Posted 06 May 2026 at 19:41

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi Andy, no they checked for an infection and there is none. Have been taking cranberry tablets but they have no effect.

Hi Liam64,

wondering how you are getting on as I am looking at EBRT....

User

Posted 09 May 2026 at 21:49

My EBRT caused a stricture in my urethra. Didn't manifest itself until some time after. Been on Tamulosin since which has helped a lot. Don't let it run, get it sorted or it can make your life a misery.

User

Posted 11 May 2026 at 16:17

I had some irritation with RT, peeing glass and a restricted flow which made it even worse. Tamsulosin was a god send and kicked in really quickly. I suffered for a week before asking for medication, I wish I'd asked for it straight away.

User

Posted 12 May 2026 at 12:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Skip cranberry. You don't have an infection. Drink 2-3L of water daily. Cut coffee, tea, alcohol, and citrus. Ask your consultant for tamsulosin or AZO (phenazopyridine). Paracetamol won't cut it.

AZO (phenazopyridine) is a fantastic urological pain killer. Unfortunately, it's slightly carcinogenic, so it's not licenced in the UK or the EU, hence it is illegal here. It's a similar chemical to the dye that was using in diazo printing (also slightly carcinogenic as some printers sadly found out).

Cranberry won't help if you have an infection (the effect isn't powerful enough), but sugar free cranberry reduces the chances of getting an infection in the first place.

Edited by member 12 May 2026 at 12:10 | Reason: Not specified

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